At the heart of the journey: Stacey Stone and the human side of admissions
If you ask Stacey Stone where she comes from, she won’t just name a town—she’ll paint a picture. Byron, Georgia. Six acres of pecan trees in Peach County. A Vietnam veteran (Marine) father who retired from Robins Air Force Base and is the person Stone credits for her work ethic. A mother whose career as a visual therapist was devoted to helping children see more clearly. It’s a quiet, rooted upbringing that shaped the woman who now helps guide hundreds of students toward one of the biggest decisions of their lives as Mercer Law’s director of admissions and financial aid.
Stone is a first-generation college graduate, earning her bachelor of arts in liberal studies from Mercer University in 2022, with concentrations in communication and literary studies. Currently she is a student in Mercer’s M.Ed. program in higher education leadership—proof that even while shepherding others through their academic journeys, she remains deeply committed to her own.
Her path to Mercer Law wasn’t a straight line—but it was a steady one. Before entering higher education, Stone spent five years as a project and office manager at The Brainstorm Lab, a small videography, photography, and web design firm in North Macon. In April 2012, she joined Mercer University as an enrollment associate, where she learned the intricate systems behind undergraduate admissions operations while working under the guidance of Dr. Penny Elkins (senior vice president of enrollment management at the time). During her nine years working with Dr. Elkins, now Mercer University 19th president, Stone says she experienced firsthand the intentional care Dr. Elkins demonstrated in every aspect of her leadership, from the students Mercer serves to the staff she supported.
“Dr. Elkins made each interaction personal in an environment that could have easily adhered to a strict hierarchy,” Stone said. “That behind-the-scenes foundation eventually led me to Mercer Law in March 2021 as an admissions specialist. For the past two years, I have served as director of admissions and financial aid, I and am fortunate to have been shaped by the example of strong women leaders including Dr. Penny Elkins, Dean Karen Sneddon, and Assistant Dean Marilyn Sutton.
What first drew her to admissions wasn’t a grand vision—it was something quieter and deeply personal.
“I realized I could use my strengths in efficiency, organization, and data management in a way that truly mattered,” she says. “But once I got into it, I saw that every number, every file, every application represented a real person. That’s when it became more than a job.”
The admissions team, led by Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid Marilyn Sutton, oversees everything from prospective student recruitment and the law school application process to managing financial aid for every Mercer Law student. It’s a rare “one-stop shop” model, where policies, data, recruitment, and finances meet people, and Stone believes that accessibility is critical.
“We want students to feel comfortable dropping in anytime,” Stone says. “To ask hard questions. To talk about their circumstances. To know they’ll be heard.”
And they do drop in—for advice, for reassurance, for candy, for a moment to breathe, and Stone is a consistent and calming.
“The admissions and financial aid process can be overwhelming and at times a bit daunting,” Sutton said. “From the first encounter with a prospective student to them becoming an alum and beyond, we share our collective knowledge, provide meaningful support, and build lasting relationships. Stacey plays an integral part in supporting the mission and goals of who are as an admissions and financial team every single day. Her dedication and commitment to our team and the students is second to none.”
Stone says the most satisfying part of her job isn’t one single moment—it’s the full arc.
“It’s the student who walks in unsure if they even belong here,” she says. “Then we watch them step onto campus and absolutely thrive. We see them grow over three years. We watch them walk across that graduation stage. Their families pull us into photos. Then we see them start their careers. Come back to sit on panels. Travel with us for recruitment. Those moments never get old.”
Stone has seen the admissions landscape shift in recent years, especially with an increase in interest from nontraditional and older students.
“Every year, I see more people realize it’s not too late,” she says. “It’s incredibly inspiring to watch someone take that leap after wondering for years if law school was possible for them.”
Her advice to prospective students is practical, honest, and rooted in experience: Don’t rush. Study for the LSAT for months. Apply early—ideally before January 15—for better scholarship opportunities. Budget wisely. Build your credit. And above all: don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.
“Come talk to anyone in the admissions office,” she says simply.
Maintaining a personal touch in a high-stress process is central to Stone’s philosophy. Applicants are encouraged to visit campus for open houses, law preview days, and one-on-one tours with student ambassadors. Even after admission, that warmth continues—handwritten notes and personalized accolades included in every acceptance packet.
“It’s a small gesture,” she says, “but it means students know they’re seen as individuals.”
Ask what sets Mercer Law apart, and Stone doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the community,” she says. “Faculty, staff, students, alumni—everyone truly wants each other to succeed.”
Alumni relationships, in particular, shape how she tells the Mercer story. “There’s a shared understanding between the graduates who came before and the students coming up behind them. These relationships matter. A lot.”
Outside the office, Stone’s life moves at the joyful pace of motherhood. Her oldest daughter, Kaylin, is 21 and a junior at Mercer University, double majoring in criminal justice and sociology. She quite literally grew up on Mercer’s campus—doing homework in the library while her mother worked just a few buildings away.
Her youngest, Abree, is 9 and full of energy—dancing, playing soccer, and holding her own in video games. Stone enjoys long walks, live music in Macon, and traveling whenever she can—especially wandering through new cities and letting herself get “just a little lost.”
Stone also serves as a client advocate on the board of directors for Georgia Legal Services, a role that reflects her deep commitment to service.
From pecan groves in Peach County to the front lines of legal education, Stacey Stone’s story is one of steady growth, quiet leadership, and deep care. For the students who pass through her office each year, she is often their first real introduction to Mercer Law—and, long after graduation, one of the reasons they always feel welcome coming home.
